Abstract: The study adopted a “study-test” pattern to explore the relationship of implicit and explicit memory in face domain. In study phase, selective attention task is to processing a word superimposed on a face, so as to controlling the processing level of faces. In recognition phase, the task is old/new discrimination. We compared the ERPs produced by new faces with those produced by old faces that were misclassified by the subjects as new, which represents a neural correlate of implicit memory, and the ERPs produced by new faces with those produced by old faces that were classified as old, which represents a neural correlate of explicit memory. The results indicated that, the neural correlates of implicit and explicit memory have been dissociated within a singe task. Explicit memory effect was observed in ERPs from 400ms after stimulus onset, at prefrontal and frontal electrodes. Implicit memory effect was seen in ERPs at 300~500ms from central and parietal electrodes. Our results were similar to results that come from experiments on word, which support the issue that implicit memory and explicit memory have commonality between stimulus domains

Key words: implicit memory, explicit memory, selective attention, event-related potential